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It was a little hair-raising this weekend sailing the dory on clean and desolate Lake Havasu (the dammed Colorado river along the AZ/CA border) where Santa Ana winds were forecasted. I was gratified to find out the boat's comfort limits, hit by 35 mph winds with gusts to 45 mph or possibly higher. It was thrilling and fun but uncomfortable and scary. Saturday night, I was sternly reminded by the wind that even under-canvassed and very low profile sails, if there is a chance of a gust like that, I'd better not make fast the main sheet. We didn't take on water, thanks to the rough-water-friendly dory, but our unballasted boat and sails were broadsided by a 45-mph gust that sent her right over on her ear and we had a scary moment there. In a boat like that in weather like that, the only semi-comfortable sailing to be done is to turn our high tail to the waves and fly something small!
Betsy and Aurora got seasick with all the tossing about, but Betsy kept wanting to "go out there" all weekend, as she is hard to frighten and harder to discourage. But I may have somewhat discouraged Aurora from boats for the time being. She has had to endure so many hair-raising challenges on the water throughout her life, and it's not making her into a thrill-seeker. We slept in a "protected" cove but still the wind and waves tossed us all night, making sleep a very fleeting affair.
Today, having gotten half my needed sleep 3 days in a row, I feel as though I've been beaten up and ran over (front and back) and all we're good for this evening is one spent on the couch. We also visited a rare and pretty little mauve-colored slot canyon there lakeside. Need to return with a rope however. Photos eventually to follow.
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